Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) donned a red “A” on her shirt Tuesday after her vote to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) left her feeling “demonized” on Capitol Hill, she said. “I’m wea…
Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) donned a red “A” on her shirt Tuesday after her vote to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) left her feeling “demonized” on Capitol Hill, she said.
“I’m wearing the scarlet letter after the week that I just had, last week, being a woman up here and being demonized for my vote and for my voice,” Mace told reporters, apparently referencing the 19th century novel in which the protagonist was condemned to wear a red “A” — a “scarlet letter” — after becoming pregnant out of wedlock.
But honestly: cry more. You’re a member of the Republican Party, Mace. You know who they are and what their agenda is. None of this should be surprising to you.
You see, the original scarlet letter was put on some woman just fighting for her freedom in an oppressive society. She was a pioneer of female empowerment in a patriarchal society, just like Mace, who's being oppressed for exercising her first amendment right to say "no" to functioning government.
I would never shame a woman for becoming pregnant outside of wedlock. It's silly. I would instead hope that the woman has legal access to effective birth control methods if they choose to use them, legal and safe access to abortions if they so choose, and I would hope she has access to prenatal care as well as healthcare for her and the baby postpartum. I would also hope the mother and child have available social safety nets that cover their basic needs for life including access to education.